[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill, (H.R. 4) to 
     enhance energy conservation, research and development and to 
     provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for 
     the American people, and for other purposes.

  Mr. WATTS. Mr. Chairman, the House of Representatives today is 
considering a comprehensive energy strategy to provide clean, 
affordable and available energy to all Americans. The president has put 
forth a sound initiative to meet our energy needs after eight years of 
neglect by the previous Administration. The House today is considering 
a forward-looking plan that confronts the energy crunch head-on and 
offers real solutions to our energy shortage, volatile prices and our 
dependent on foreign oil.
  The Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act is a balanced 
approach of conservation and production. It is good for the economy, as 
it will create jobs. It's no wonder the AFL-CIO and Teamsters' unions 
have thrown their support to our ideas. They, like many working 
Americans, know the value and importance of domestic energy production.
  The SAFE Act helps modernize our aging energy infrastructure. In 
California, which has faced some of the most severe energy shortages in 
the country this year, they went without a new power plant for nearly 
twenty years. Playing catch-up should not be considered an energy 
strategy. We need 38,000 miles of new natural gas pipelines to move 
enough fuel to supply our energy needs. The SAFE Act will look ahead to 
the future and plan for the energy needs of today and tomorrow.
  We should not wait for another crisis to formulate an energy plan. 
The time is now to correct the mistakes of the past and lay down 
sensible groundwork for the future. Reliable, affordable and 
environmentally clean energy should be first and foremost on our 
agenda. I urge the House to pass the SAFE Act.

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